Evans Battles Longtime Foe In 4th Ward

March 06, 1991|By John Kass.

``Greed, venality and betrayal,`` along with other rhetorical campaign standbys, were put to work Tuesday in the 4th Ward aldermanic runoff, where Ald. Timothy Evans (4th) is trying to fight off a challenge by Toni Preckwinkle for the third time since 1983.

Preckwinkle held a City Hall news conference to denounce Evans and announce that two of their losing opponents in the Feb. 26 aldermanic elections have endorsed her campaign for the April 2 runoff.

Preckwinkle said she was endorsed by community organizer Robert Lucas, who received 11 percent of the vote, and Illinois Bell executive William Powell, who got 10.5 percent.

Lucas, leader of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, continued to blame Evans for supporting a lawsuit that forced former Mayor Eugene Sawyer into a 1989 election with Mayor Richard Daley.

``A black would have been in the mayor`s office if it wasn`t for Tim Evans,`` said Lucas, who has endorsed Evans against Preckwinkle in the past.

Evans, who also lost to Daley in 1989 general election, got 44 percent of the vote last week in the South Side ward. Preckwinkle, who has tried and failed to defeat Evans in 1983 and 1987, got 30 percent of the vote this February, mostly from her voter base in Hyde Park.

``Bill Powell is neutral in this campaign,`` Evans said. ``And Bob Lucas is full of greed, venality and betrayal here. He met with me last week and said he would endorse Preckwinkle unless I promised to agree to the demolition of some vacant high-rise properties. He`s an opportunist, working for the developers.``

``I got into the campaign because I couldn`t abide Tim Evans,`` Powell said. ``I released a letter endorsing her. I endorse her now.``

Preckwinkle reiterated her campaign themes Tuesday, accusing Evans of not doing enough to develop the ward and attack poverty and blight in the areas outside of Hyde Park.

Evans described as unfair Lucas` charge that Evans cost black Chicago control of the mayor`s office.

``I had a right to run for that office. I`ve worked hard to help this ward for the past 18 years,`` Evans said. ``I`ve brought jobs and housing to the ward. And now, people are trying to take this seat on behalf of the developers and it won`t happen.``